Equipment for handling type matrices



Oct. 13,1925. 1,556,710

F'. H. -PIEIRPONT EQUIPMENT FOR HANDLING TYPE MATRICES Filed Jun 21, 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m5 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 13,1925. Y 1,556,110

F. H. PIERPONT EQUIPMENT FOR HANDLING TYPE MATRICES Filed June 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet -2 Patented Get. 13, 1925.

FRANK rrIlw irair rrnnrou'r, or isntro'nns, rronnnm nnemnn, lis'sienombo n'nnsron MONOTYPE MACHINE com/Irena or rHILAnELrHIA, rmmsyty m; #0032034- non or VIBG 'NM nejrr'rntrinnron' HANDLING rygamrnrcns. I

'Appueatmirmediune21, 1923. Serial No. 646,981.

Tofall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H 'IN'MAN PIER- PONT, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat 'S a;1fords, =Horley, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Equipments for Handling Type Matrices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and to the characters of reference marked thereon) This inventionrelates to appliances or apparatus'for' facilitating the handling of type matrices and is, particularly adapted for use With matrices such as are employed in type casting machines of the kind disclosed basically in Patent N0. 625,998, dated May 30, 1899, especially those which are assembled in rows and columns in a die cas and supported therein by a series of parallel bars resting in externalside grooves in Walls of the matrices and by parallel rods arranged at right angles to the bars and passing 7 thifo'u'ghopenings in the bars and central holes; in the m'atricesg A'matrix' case equipment of the-special -kind' referred to is disclos d in my application for'Letters" Patent SeriaLN'o': 646,980 filedon an-even date h'e'reWithi I I I V It is frequently necessaryt'o remove v a matrix from-the diejcase either for the purposeefrep'lacing a new matrix for a Worn out o;- damaged bne' or" for substituting therefor a matrix having another character or symbol, anew-hen this is to bedone, it is necessary to remoyethe entire series ofmatrice's from the die ease,- since'the rows of mat'riceshave to be separated' tci free the matri es of a row from the sus e sion d vices and allow the remoyal of the matrix to be dealt with. p p a The matrices are a comparatively accurate or tight fit Within the-die case frame. and at least one entireseries of suspension devices has to" be withdrawn, in .therase of the special equipment referred to, before thematrices as a Whole can beremoved from the die case. In such circumstances, When the rows are separated, even on a fiat surface, to enable the matrix'that i's to' be dealt with,

to be separated from adjacent matrices and or upset, and would all have tobe accurately reassembled and packedtig'htly together before they could be replaced in the-disease,

fromthesuspensiondevices, the matrices of the entire series'a-re likely to be displaced thus eausing'considerable trouble and a loss of time, and probably, also, damage to the matrices;

It is the chief object of the presentinvention to obviate these drawbacks and disadvantages, and to provide an apparatus or appliances whereby" the matrices ca removed as'a body from the die case, theroyv's of matrices separated and a matrix removed and changed or replaced, and the entire series of matrices thereafter-returned to; the

die case, in an easy, speedy and efficient manner Without the danger of displacing or damaging any of the matrices" of the series. "According to this invention, the appliances or apparatus-comprises a transferring 'fra me 'orcarrie'r, which is adapted to fit around-the matrices While in the die ease,

and in which thematriees r'e removed from the die case: a receiving or assembling plate or tray to which the matrices are trans- 'ferred by'the transferring frame and where- 'On'they can beopen'ed up or separated, and a lift ng baror holder furnished with pins or projections adapted to enterthesuspension hO'lS'iIl a row of matrices when one side of; such row has-been exposed; Inthe die case for use with which the invention is particularly applicable, the

matrices are oblong bodies rectangular-f or V sq'uarein cross section' 'having external lat-' eral suspension rooves'en two sides and a central suspension hole through the body at right angles to the grooves. A series of the matrices so that the opposite ends of the bars project from both ends" of the rows of matrices-and are supported by these projecting ends in slots orgrooves in the sides suspension bars rest in the side gr'o'eves in v of the matrix frame, and suspension rods pass through the central openin'gs inthe matrices and holes in the suspension bars, and are supported by theiropposite ends in holes'in the sides of the: matrix frame,'be-

in capable of being withdrawn e'ndwise Referring to the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the transferring frame or carrier.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of the frame shown in Fig. 1. Fig. '31s a plan of the receiving or assembling tray or' plate.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44ofFig.3.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the lifting bar or holder.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the bar shown in Fig. 5.

i Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the frame, the tray and a die case in relative cooperative positions. a

Fig. 8 isa sectional elevation showing the frame and plate together.

Fig. 9 is a plan showing the plate and lifting bar together, and

F'g. 10 is a front elevation of the lifting bar with some matrices thereon.

. The transferring frame or carrier is represented by. the character 11; the-assembling or receiving plate or tray is shown at 12; the lifting bar or holder at 1.3; the die case 'at 14; and its perforated cover plate at 14 (Fig. 7 the matrices at 15; and the matrix suspension bars at 16.

Conveniently the transferring frame 11 (see Fig. 1) is formed of a single piece so as to be absolutely firm and rigid. The

opening in the frame 11 is the same as that -in'the die case 14, so that the frame 11 fits over the exposed or character ends of the matrices 15 in the die case and clamps them tightly together. In the upper parts of the two end walls of the frame 11- are formed open ended slots 17 adapted to receive the projecting end of the matrix suspension bars "16. In order to transfer the matrices as a bodyto the transferring frame 11 the cylindrical matrix suspension rods (notshown) are first withdrawn from thematrices and the die case through the openings 18 in one end of the die case frame, leaving the -matrices supported on the-suspension bars 16. The die case 14 is then turned with the character ends of the matrices upward and the frame 11 is placed over the matrices so that the character ends thereof project into the opening in the transferring frame 11. The die case14 and frame 11 arethen inverted, as one, and .the matrices pushed out bodily from the die case into the frame 11, so that the ends of the suspension bars 16 pass into the slots 17 (see Fig. 7). As thematrices are acomparatively tight fit within the frame' of the die case it is generally necessary to apply a' forcing pressure to their rear endsand for convenience in doing this-the receiving tray. or plate 12 is furnished with a number of'legs or pushers 19,

usually four, which are adapted to pass through perforations in the perforated cover plate 14 of the die case and enter the cone holes or cavities 20 in the rear ends of say the four corner matrices so that by placing the plate 12 over the die case and pushing it downward, these pushers force the matrices in a body from the die case 14 into the transferring frame 11 (see Fig. 7).

The receiving or assembling tray or plate 12 is then removed and rested upon the pushers 19 which now serve as legs or feet for the plate 12, and the transferring frame 11 with the matrices 15 is inverted and placed on the plate 12 so that" the suspension bars 16 still between the rows of matrices run across the plate 12 (see Fig. 8).

The receiving or separating plate or tray 12 is furnished with upstanding side guide walls or bars 21, and the width of the plate within these bars 21 is just equal to the length of a row of matrices, the length of the plate being longer than its width. The ends of the matrix suspension bars 16 are adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the bars 21.

The matrices are transferred from the transferring frame 11 by pushing them bodily from the frame 11 on to the'plate 12. The height of the bars 21 is such that, while the ends of the matrix-suspension bars 16 rest on these bars, the ends of the matrices rest upon the surface of the plate and conveniently a series of parallel flat topped ribs 22 are formed on the upper surface of the plate to supportthe matrices (see Figs. 3

and 4).

The matrices now rest upon the plate 12 projections or pins 23 (see Figs. 5 and 6) which are of a length to penetrate through the central holes 15 of one row of matrices only and to facilitate the entry of these pins 23 into the matrices on the ends of the bar 13 are formed notches or shoulders 24 so that these, by engaging the tops and the inside of the bars 21 on the frame 12 guide the lifting bar and hold it so that the pins 23 are on a level with the holes 15 in the matrices. When the pins 23 are pushed into the holes in the matrices the entire row of matrices can be lifted and the required matrix removed from its respective supporting pin and replaced (see Fig. 10).

When a matrix has been replaced on the the rows brought close together again. The transferring frame is placed around the matrices and these are then retransferred to the die case and the suspension rods reinserted.

Although the apparatus has been described as employed to facilitate the changing of matrices, it can be employed equally well for loading or filling an entire die case with matrices. In this case the matrices can be assembled line by line on the lifting bar 13 together with the necessary. suspension bar or bars and transferred to the receiving plate or the matrices can be assembled line by line by hand in the receiving plate and the suspension bars inserted. After the matrices have been assembled on the plate 12, they can be transferred to the frame 11 as already described and placed by the frame 11- in the die case.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for facilitating the handling of type matrices comprising a: transferring frame adapted to enclose a group of matrices, a receiving or assembling tray or plate adapted to receive the matrices and retain them in position and a lifting bar or holder adapted to engage and separately support a line or series of matrices.

2. In apparatus for facilitating the han-.

dling of type matrices, the combination with a transferring frame furnished with a series of slots in two of the walls thereof, of a receiving or assembling tray or plate having side walls or bars to confine and support the matrices from orfor the transferring frame.

3. In apparatus for facilitating the handling of type matrices, the combination with a tray having walls to confine and guide a series or groups of matrices, of a lifting bar furnished with projections to receive and support matrices and having guides, notches, or shoulders to engage the walls of the tray.

4. In apparatus for facilitating the handling of type matrices, a frame furnished with an opening to embrace or clamp a series of matrices and furnished in two of its opposite walls with open ended grooves or slots.

holder furnished with a series of pins or projections to support matrices, and with ihoulders for guiding and supporting the 7 Apparatus for facilitating the handling of type matrices assembled and supported on bars in a matrix case, comprising a frame adapted to fit over the ends of said matrices, said frame being provided with slots in opposite walls thereof to receive the said bars, and a tray provided with projecting pushers each adapted to contact with a matrix in transferring the matrices from the case to the frame, said tray being also provided with-a suitable surface to receive the matrices from the frame.

8. Apparatus for facilitatin the handling of type matrices assembled and supported on bars in a matrix case, ccmprising a frame adapted to receive said matrices from the matrix case and having slotted end walls to receive said bars, a tray having a matrix receiving surface of a width equal to }the length of a line of matrices, said surface having a greater length than its width, and side guide walls upstanding from said surface to receive and support said bars and to support the end Walls of said frame in transferring the matrices from said frame to said tray. v

9. As an article of manufacture, a frame to receive matrices assembled and supported on bars in a matrix case, said frame being provided with slots to receive the said bars, a tray provided with pushers for transferring the matrices from the case to the frame and provided also with a matrix receiving surface and upstanding side walls to support the slotted walls of the frame during the transfer of the matrices from the frame to the tray and to receive and support the said bars, and a holder provided with projections for ente ing recesses in the matrices and with shoulders for cooperating with the said side walls of the tra said holder being adapted to receive a ine of matrices on the tray for removal therefrom.

10. An apparatus for facilitating the handling of type matrices comprising a transferring frame or carrier, an assembling or receiving plate or tray and a lifting bar or holder arranged and combined to operate substantially as and for the purposes herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings.

FRANK HINMAN PIER FONT. 

